In an emergency situation involving a child in a hot car, what is crucial to check first?

In an emergency situation involving a child in a hot car, the most crucial first step is to check whether the child is breathing. This step is vital because the child's immediate health and safety are the top priority. If the child is unconscious or not breathing, immediate life-saving measures, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or calling for emergency medical assistance, must be taken right away.

While assessing other factors, such as whether the car is locked or the temperature inside the car, is important and should be addressed, these actions become secondary to confirming the child's breathing. Should the child's condition be critical, any delay in checking for breathing could have severe consequences. Therefore, the focus should always begin with ensuring that the child has sufficient vital signs before considering other variables in the situation.